Donepezil (Aricept)
I could not save my mother, and so I felt chagrined. But, as I started researching dementia, I wanted to challenge the development of a drug for Alzheimer disease, which plagues many people. Consequently, Aricept was developed - Hachiro Sugimoto
HWN Suggests
British Study Sees Scant Value In Alzheimer's Drug Aricept
The most widely prescribed drug for Alzheimer's disease, Aricept, does not delay the onset of disability or the need for a nursing home, British researchers are reporting today. The researchers say that the drug has ''disappointingly little overall benefit'' and is not cost-effective, and that better treatments are needed.
Experts in the United States are already divided over the usefulness of Aricept and related drugs, and the study is unlikely to end the debate. Most studies have shown that the drugs can produce small improvements in scores on mental tests, but it is not clear whether the gains translate into anything helpful in real life.
Articles of Interest
Alzheimer's drugs a waste of money, says NHS study
"They [the society] have been asking for people with a good experience with the cholin- esterase inhibitors (the class of drugs to which donepezil/Aricept belongs) to write in and they will submit it to Nice. There has been far too much reliance on anecdotal evidence of people getting better on the drugs."
Alzheimer’s Drug Aricept May Increase Risk of Rare Muscle Condition
Canadian researchers have found that hospitalization for rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle condition, occurred more than twice as frequently among those taking the Alzheimer’s drug donepezil (Aricept) compared with those taking two similar drugs, rivastigmine (Exelon) and galantamine...
Alzheimer’s drug may keep late-stage sufferers out of nursing homes
A common Alzheimer’s drug that is often withdrawn in later stages of the disease can halve the likelihood of severely ill patients needing to be moved into nursing homes, research has shown.
Donepezil Beyond Alzheimer's Disease? A Narrative Review of Therapeutic Potentials of Donepezil in Different Diseases
Donepezil hydrochloride is an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor studied and approved to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, this drug can have positive therapeutic potential in treating different conditions, including various neurodegenerative disorders such as other types of dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, psychiatric and mood disorders, and even infectious diseases.
Donepezil Can Be Toxic if Too Much Is Taken
Donepezil is frequently prescribed to help treat Alzheimer's dementia. It raises levels of acetylcholine in the brain. That can modestly improve symptoms but also cause numerous adverse reactions and drug interactions. Toxic exposures can occur when Alzheimer's dementia patients inadvertently take extra doses and when young children access family members' medications.
Donepezil for people with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease
There is moderate-quality evidence that people with mild, moderate or severe dementia due to Alzheimer's disease treated for periods of 12 or 24 weeks with donepezil experience small benefits in cognitive function, activities of daily living and clinician-rated global clinical state. There is some evidence that use of donepezil is neither more nor less expensive compared with placebo when assessing total healthcare resource costs.
Resources
Aricept
The recommended starting dosage of ARICEPT is 5 mg administered once per day in the evening, just prior to retiring. The maximum recommended dosage of ARICEPT in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease is 10 mg per day. A dose of 10 mg should not be administered until patients have been on a daily dose of 5 mg for 4 to 6 weeks.
